Silas dodson



S. DODSON.

BLLVJQLTBD RAILROAD. No. 250,220. Patented Nov. 29,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS DODSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELEVATED RAILROAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,220, dated November 29, 1881,

' Application filed February A0, 18,80.

To all lwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAS DODsON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elevated Railroads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, refer,- ence being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of the road-bed of anelevated railway, showing my improvement. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section in line with one of the rails, the line of section being indicated by line xxof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section in line y y. Fig. 4 is a section of the gutter.

My improvement relates to elevated railroads, and is specially designed to lessen noise by reducing the vibrations.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

The general principle of my invention is simi lar to that patented by me November 11,1879, a tight flooring and raised sides being used, forming a passage-way or trough, through which the cars run.

In the drawings, A A represent the longitudinal timbers or sills upon which the roadbed is built, said timbers being supported by columns, as usual.

B B are the cross-ties upon which the rails are laid, and O O are intermediate cross-ties, similar to the others, but supporting the flooring and guards instead of the rails. The rails D D are spiked to the ties B B in the usual manner; but the ties O G, where the rails pass, are notched out, so that the rails do not touch them, and blocks of rubber or other suitable packing material, au, are laid in the notches and rest against the bottom of the rails without being attached thereto. These blocks serve to mufe the rails and prevent noise. The ties C C are a little higher vertically than the ties B B, so as to elevate the flooring that is laid thereon above the ties B B, thereby allowing the latter to be removed and replaced at any time in repairing the road. The ties C O are also made longer than the width of the roadbed, projecting at each side, or have extensions attached thereto projecting outward at the side and supporting a plankway, E, outside the railway, which enables workmen to execute repairs on the road at any time and step outside the road-bed while trains are passing, and also furnishes a regular walk when required.

G is a tight flooring, which is laid upon the ties C O and secured to the same, resting free and clear above the ties B B, to which the rails are secured, as before described. This dooring covers the whole road-bed, but the rails pass through the same to restfirm on their ties. The iiooring resting free from the ties B B allows the latter to be removed and replaced at any time, as before stated.

H H are guard-timbers laid longitudinally on each side of the rails and at some distance therefrom, passing through the floor and resting on the tiesG O, and b b are coverings extending from the guard-timbers up to and abutting the rails, but at such a height as to leave an inclosed dead-space, d, on each side of the rail. The coverings are placed as high as possible, allowing the flanges of the wheels to pass over them. These dead-air spaces around the rails absorb the vibrations and prevent the noise which would otherwise occur, and are quite as ei'ective as packin gs for the purpose, while they are cheaper and much more convenient, as they enable repairs to be readily made, and obviate the tearing up of cement. rlhe coverings may be supported at intervals by suitable blocks or cleats. i

I I are the sides of the road-bed, consisting of regular lengths built up to the height of thev platforms of the cars. They are each made of two thicknesses, ff, with a dead-air space, g, between them, and surmounted by a cap, h. By the use of these sides having inclosed deadspaces the great vibration which is given off at the sides of the road is absorbed and much noise is prevented.

K are troughs or gutters arranged at intervals on the under side of the oorn g and crosswise of the same, and having pipes k, which lead therefrom to the sewer of the street. Openings Z are made in the ooring over these troughs. All the dirt and dust that collects in the road-bed can be swept off through the openings into the gutters, and water that collects will also flow off of its own accord.

Bycthe means above described a road-bed is produced which effectually deadens the noise, as, in addition to the special features for the IOO purpose, the platforms of the cars running close to the sides of the road inclose the space below, and, in addition to this, the cars are effectually hidden from sight, so that horses are not liable to become frightened, and the road is eectually covered and protected from the weather.

Having thus described lmy invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an elevated railroad, a road-bed consisting of the ilooring Gr, guards H H, and vertical sides I I, resting on one set of ties, and rails D D, passing through the iooring and resting on another set of ties, the two sets of ties being of unequal height, so that those to which the rails are attached can be removed and replaced without disturbing the superstructure, as herein shown and described.

2. In combination with the ties C C, supporting the tiooring independent of the rails, the pads a a, fitting in notches made in the ties, and resting loosely against the bottoms of the rails and serving to prevent noise, as herein shown and described.

3. In an elevated railroad, the combination, with the rails D D, of the timbers H H and the coverings b, forming a dead-space inclosing the lolies of the rails, as and for the purpose speci- 4. In an elevated railroad, a road-bed havin gits sides I constructed with two thicknesses, inclosing a dead-space, for the purpose of deadening noise, as herein shown and described.

5. In an elevated railroad, the combination, with the road-bed consisting of the iiooring G and vertical sides I I, of the plankway E, resting upon the projecting ends of the ties C C, and forming a Walk outside of the road-bed, said walk being raised, so as to allow withdrawal of the ties B B beneath it, as herein shown and described.

6. In combination with the flooring G, provided With the opening l, the gutter K, extending crosswise of the iiooring, as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

srLAs noDsoN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS FARRELL, JOHN SALMON. 

